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2006 August 23 - Grandmother of liver disease boy hosts fundraising event

The grandmother of a local liver disease boy is organising a coffee morning and sale on Saturday 2nd September to help raise funds for a children’s charity close to her heart.

Margaret Basher from Greystones is holding the event at St Gabriels church hall, Dobbin Hill, Greystones, to help raise funds for Children’s Liver Disease Foundation (CLDF), a unique national charity dedicated to fighting childhood liver disease. 

Margaret’s grandson, Louis, who is now three, was diagnosed with a life threatening liver disease called alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency (alpha 1 ATD) when he was six weeks old.  The disease means that protein in the liver becomes trapped and can cause irreversible liver damage and at present there is no cure – just treatment to cope with the symptoms of liver damage.  He is doing well but will require monitoring for the rest of his life.

Margaret says, “CLDF is a lifeline to families of children with liver disease, providing accurate information, advice and emotional support at a time when they often feel very alone.  The Foundation also gives hope for the future through its research programme but desperately needs more funds to be able to continue its vital work.  I thought I would do something to help so I organised a similar event last year at my home and it was a real success, raising over £350.  This year the church has kindly allowed me to use the hall free of charge so I am hoping the event will be even bigger and better.”

The coffee morning and sale takes place between 10am – 12pm with homemade breads, cakes and savoury items available and toys, books and other nearly new items on sale.  A raffle will also take place.

Catherine Arkley, chief executive of Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, adds, “Families are truly devastated with a diagnosis of childhood liver disease, most of which are life threatening, and all of which mean a lifetime of care.  Few people realise that more children are diagnosed with a life threatening liver disease than childhood leukaemia and there are currently no cures, just a lifetime of care ahead.  We desperately need to raise more funds to continue and enhance our support, education and research programmes and are very grateful to Margaret for organising this fundraising event on our behalf.”

For further information on the work of the Foundation, please visit www.childliverdisease.org or call 0121 212 3839.

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Note to editors:

For further information please contact Rachel Markham, Children’s Liver Disease Foundation, Tel: 0121 212 6012, e-mail: communications@childliverdisease.org

Children’s Liver Disease Foundation is a unique national charity that fights childhood liver diseases through funding pioneering research and educating healthcare professionals and the general public. Formed in 1980, it provides professional, emotional support to families affected and is the only organisation of its kind in the UK.

Childhood liver disease – the facts
• More children in the UK are currently diagnosed with a liver disease than childhood leukaemia
• At least two children are diagnosed with a liver disease every day in the UK
• Most childhood liver diseases are life threatening; all mean a lifetime of care
• There are over 100 different liver diseases that can affect babies, children or young people
• For most childhood liver diseases the cause is unknown
• Liver disease has no cure
• CLDF is the only organisation in the UK dedicated to stamping out childhood liver disease